Tuesday 5 July 2016

Film: 'Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie'

I think I've seen every one of the TV episodes but can't claim to be one of the show's very many big-time, die-hard fans. I watched them because they were so compelling, though have to admit that although they usually brought up a fair number of smiles I never found them as hilarious as some did - and, indeed, still do. Trouble was, clever lines were coming so thick and fast that I couldn't keep up with them, so reckoned that I was just too slow-brained to properly appreciate.
Then when I saw some very indifferent reviews of this film, not one of which was especially enthusiastic, I was pretty sure that I was unlikely to feel favourably towards it. In the event, enjoyment was considerably more than I'd expected. 

Much of the film's criticism seems to stem from the material being too thin to sustain a full-length feature, though it's still just 90 minutes long. (One of the attractions of the TV shows was their densely-packed concision). However, I did think that it held interest pretty well.

The story is, basically, that Edina (Jennifer Saunders, also the film's writer) and Patsy (Joanna Lumley, particularly good as ever - complete with her trademark snarly put-downs), living the high-life on a continuous binge with no regard as to from where the money comes, go to a bling-bling fashion do on the banks of the Thames where, among many of the guests doing cameos is model Kate Moss chatting while perched on a wall, when Edina, anxious for her presence to be known, accidentally pushes her off and into the river, where it's assumed she's drowned.  This is the pretext for the pair of them to, first lie low, and then to flee the country, ending up on the French Riviera, their 'natural' comfort zone, mixing with the super-affluent, who may, with a bit of cunning, be able to assist them in sustaining their prodigious lifestyle.

There have also been complaints from reviewers about the inflated number of cameos, and there certainly are a lot of them - some delivering unfunny one-liners, some outstaying their welcome. But it didn't distract me as much as it might do for others. (The list of names contains almost a who's-who of gay men on current British television.) I recognised most but, sitting through the long end credits, there were quite a number of whom I'd not been aware when they were on-screen - such as, which one was Perez Hilton?

All the regulars from the TV show are here - including, of course, Julia Sawalha as E's sensible, level-headed daughter - and June Whitfield, as Edina's mother, now looking very frail, which is hardly a wonder some twenty-plus years on. Jane Horrocks is again 'Bubbles', the ditzy character still as silly and unfunny as she was on TV. 

Director Mandie Fletcher, who's done a great deal of TV work, also directed three of the original AbFab shows.

Some of the audience I was with thought the whole thing was riotously funny. I was far removed from that opinion yet was pleasantly surprised at how much pleasure I did, in fact, get out of it. A large part of it must be because I came to it with low expectations. So maybe if you're a fan of the originals you ought to try keeping a lid on your hopes, then perhaps you too will come out of the cinema feeling that you've had an enjoyable time....................7.

24 comments:

  1. I thought this was going to be a car crash
    But 7 is high for you
    So i will nag the Prof to go

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My rating is a bounce from low expectations, J.G. I think if you REALLY loved the TV progs you may well feel let down by this. As I didn't, I wasn't.

      Delete
  2. I loved AbFab so I will see it but I am dubious.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your reservations may be well-founded, Dr Spo, but I would suggest that you give it a try.

      Delete
    2. Do please let us know your verdict, then, either on your own blog or here. Ta!

      Delete
  3. I have always loved the show and the one movie they had as a "wrap up" that aired on , I believe Comedy Central here. I do believe its hilarious because my friend Kailyne and I aren't to far off course from being them. I do wonder how long they will continue though. The one guy I have been seeing for a couple years is in his late 20's. When I was excited by this release, I told him of my excitement seeing Patsy and Edina again. He was" who?" I may now take my Boli and go sit in a corner.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not quite sure what you mean by their 'one movie', M.M. I wonder if we ever saw it here - but I think I do recall one extended episode, which is maybe what you're referring to.
      The whole AbFab concept has become very much iconic of the (mainly) early 90s so I'm not too surprised at a new generation growing up oblivious of what some of us lived through. I can't see the team trying to resurrect the TV programme and certainly they ought not to think about doing another film. More than time to rest on their laurels?

      Delete
    2. Yes,Raybeard your correct. It was a extended episode. Part of me wonders if they should have left it lie there.

      Delete
    3. I suspect that they are well aware that it needs a line drawn under it now. Whether this film has stretched it too far should be clear over coming weeks.

      Delete
  4. Carlos named his car PatsyEdina so we'll be seeing it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, fans are found in the unlikeliest of places - or perhaps not?

      Delete
  5. I am hoping it is still in the cinema when I manage to go to see it. A 7 is high praise though. I will make the effort to go to town

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It'll be around for a little while yet, Sol, even though box office takings haven't been quite as high as had been hoped. Trouble is that a large part of today's audience are too young to have even heard of AbFab.

      Delete
  6. I didn't read the details of your review because I don't know the premise of this new film and want to be surprised if I ever do see it. I WAS a die-hard fan of the show, but haven't heard the best about the film. Still, a 7 from you gives me hope.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm pretty sure you'll find enough of the original in this film to make seeing it a pleasant enough experience, Mitch - despite some disappointing opinions. However, I don't think anyone can seriously think that this is truly 'poor'. It was a tough act to live up to.

      Delete
  7. Ray,
    The few episodes of "Absolutely Fabulous" that I've seen with Edina and Patsy I found mildly amusing. I never quite got the raves that many in the gay community have over their antics. I've always found "Keeping Up Appearances" with Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced "Bouquet"!) and "Are You Being Served" laugh out loud funny. I can watch those episodes over and over again and get just as much enjoyment out of them. The other highly touted comedies like "Fawlty Towers" and the more recent "Vicious" with those two old queens Ian McClellan and Derek Jacobi absolutely painful to watch from them acting our their real personalities as outrageous queens in real life. They may be enjoying themselves but they sure aren't acting and they certainly aren't funny. But here I got off on a tangent. What did you think of their show?
    Ron

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for all those thoughts, Ron:-
      AbFab - my reaction to the TV shows were almost identical to yours - watchable, but wouldn't go out of my way to catch them.
      'Keeping Up Appearances' - I've never seen a single episode though am aware of how popular they are.
      'Are....Served' - likewise, never seen it (unbelievably) because it first aired here in the 70s when Gay Lib was becoming militant and I started becoming involved in demos while the media refused to take us seriously, portraying us as, if not killers or spy-traitors, then certainly as untrustworthy and effete clowns - the very antithesis of the word 'gay' with which we more mocked relentlessly. The John Inman character gave succour to those who wished to see us portrayed as weak, slight and ineffectual. As you can gather, the mental scars of the time are still with me. I suppose that time has moved on and the programme can now be seen in a different, more tolerant and light atmosphere (which it most definitely was not at the time), but I still even now find it rather offensive.
      'Fawlty Towers' was okay but I always found the progs marred by Andrew Sachs as Manuel who always played to the audience whereas the others played their parts straight and were all the funnier for it.
      I've also never seen an entire episode of 'Vicious'. From the clips I've seen it harks back to the bad old days (as in ''Are....Served'), which doesn't interest me. Once again, it confirms how our 'enemies' would rather see us - as bitchy malcontents.

      Delete
  8. I've always loved Ab Fab and have made plans to go see this with my friend Marla. I can't help but look forward to it, even though I don't have super-high expectations. As a die hard fan, I'll have to go even if it turns out to be mildly disappointing. But the original series will always make me laugh....I love the friendship between Patsy and Edina! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feel you'll be more pleased than disappointed, Jennifer - and it helped me by not expecting much from it. The film might have been better received had it been made ten or more years ago, but we all know the low track record of successful films made from TV series. I felt it was good to have this one before it was too late - even if it has only just avoided the fate of one to be avoided.

      Delete
  9. Ok deep breath

    It was sad, desperate, unfunny, and overlong.
    I thought it on a par with HOLIDAY ON THE BUSES

    The once, sparkling chemistry between saunders and lumley was missing totally.

    Apart from kathy Burke and some one liners from the gay supports, the whole thing was pap

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You sound almost apologetic about disagreeing with me, J.G., but there really is no need to be so - particularly in the light of our both knowing that you are completely WRONG! ;-)

      Btw: Although I did see 'On the Buses' way back in '71, and never since, I've not seen 'Holiday on..' or even 'Mutiny on...'. Maybe I ought to give 'Holiday' a try. Who knows? :-O

      Delete
  10. This is one I know I'll see. Other than going out to Comic Con when I probably shouldn't....I've been home recovering from the surgery. Movies are on my horizon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Despite some others thinking that this is an inferior relation of the TV shows and shouldn't have been attempted, I think that you should find enough here to give you a few recovery-helping chortles, as I did.
      Must admit that with my own recent troubles I'd forgotten about your own physical travails, but of course now I recall them. And in return for your own positive waves sent in this direction I'm more than happy to do likewise for you, reinforced and stronger than before. May you and FB be back to top form in no time at all. I'll race you! :-)

      Delete